For sure on the pro tour - I was talking locally with the Atlanta / north Atlanta junior and college scene. I can remember watching the Appalachian state girls play and 3 players had the UT. It was crazy to me then, and now. They were doubles players too.
Wilson Pro Labs: Ultra Pro (16x19) Official Thread
- Thread starter zettavaska
- Start date
yeah i think the younger folks don't have as much strength so they wouldn't even consider this frame
extreme_western
Rookie
Makes a lot of sense why doubles player us this given that the feel it has in touch shots is off the scale.
As a singles racket I think if you weight the hoop up enough (eg minimum 5 g at 12 and then same at 3 and 9) then it has amazing plough, so anyone who wants a classic feeling control racket should consider it ahead of the current editions of the head radical and blade. It’s a hidden gem for sure and reckon a lot of people aren’t using it due to not being aware of it, how to modify it to suit their needs or not having access to it, not being able to demo it etc rather than because it’s wouldn’t be a fit as a racket. Obviously the movement towards controlled tweeners is also a factor but if that’s not your thing then this should definitely be high on anyone’s list, would be a real shame if they stopped making it.
What weird in in the 18s you see so many percept 97, but no UP or Prestige. To me the percept is so much harder to use, but the marketing is there
extreme_western
Rookie
Agree, I think the lack of up makes sense if someone doesn’t want a traditional control racket but choosing the percept over it just doesn’t make any sense at all, it’s completely inferior in every respect which is where it becomes an issue of awareness and availability rather than anything to do with the racket
That's an interesting point, I'd never thought of and I agree.
Further, you can easily add 5g to an Ultra Pro and make it more powerful than a Percept 97. I say 5g because that would make static weights equal.
Absolutely agree. Man all of this UP talk, that’s what I’m taking to team practice tomorrow. Mine have enough weight to really thump the ball.
Actually that's very fair
It makes more sense in the sense that it's hard to get this racquet in stores and the perception has gotten into stores as yonex has become more common in pro shops and it is normal to want to stick with a racquet for many years.
extreme_western
Rookie
Yeah agreed, makes sense in terms of availability and practicality but not as a preference for the actually quality and performance of the racket
to be fair, wilson's not exactly great on quality control compared to yonex.
extreme_western
Rookie
Yeah that would be another reason to pick the percept over this but less of an issue if you’re going to customise and match them anyway which most people using these rackets will do. In terms of feel and playability I still don’t think there’s any comparison between them, the up is far cleaner and more connected and precise.
yes but i think that while it's become more common, as people in a space like this one online, we tend to think it's common that players are also racquet tinkerers like us. it's really not that common even for advanced players.
i've been in and out of different academies throughout the world over the year (not trying to "flex" just mentioning it for data) and off-hand i'd say that 90% of junior players don't bother customizing their racquets.
racketspec
Rookie
Yes, these can have their buttcaps replaced easily.
Is that the same case regarding the retail blades as well?
racketspec
Rookie
Yes, the buttcaps can be changed on those as well.
bobeeto
Hall of Fame
Ultra pro has lower power floor but higher ceiling, blade pro has more stability and spin, super solid stock.
Ultra pro comes at low SW, takes well to weight in the hoop.
Ultra is for flatter ball striking, blade pro for modern spin and power
extreme_western
Rookie
I feel well-placed to answer this having played with the blade pro for 7 months before switching to the ultra pro. To be clear, these were both the 16 19 versions, so the below refers to those.
The biggest primary differences are manouverability, power, and stability. As well as these primary differences, there are some secondary differences in terms of the nuances of the feel, spin and control profiles.
The ultra pro is infinitely more manouverable. You can release the racket very easily and get a lot of wrist action and whip. As I’m sure you’ve found with the blade pro, it couldn’t be described as whippy. The key differences here are the respective swing weights and beam profiles.
The blade pro is far more powerful. It has a much clubbier feel and gives you a lot of enhanced power which sometimes has a wow factor for how powerfully it can launch the ball when you catch it well. The ultra pro has none of this. It’s a pure control racket with no free power whatsoever - you only get back exactly what you put in with no enhancement at all.
In terms of stability the blade pro has far higher stability stock. It is playable stock whereas I don’t think the ultra pro is. In stock the ultra pro is incredibly flimsy, anaemic and uncomfortable whereas the blade pro is solid.
In terms of the secondary differences the feel profile of the ultra pro is more subtle and knify because of the way the thin beam cuts through the air. As I’ve said the blade pro is clubby and thicker feeling, more of a tank. In terms of the responses off the string bed they both have sublime raw, soft, classic graphite feel which is the best you can get in a racket in terms of the connection to the ball. The ultra pro plays better with lower tensions as at higher tensions it can feel a bit boardy, lower tensions are what really bring out the qualities of the string bed.
In terms of spin I think the ultra pro has more topspin on the forehand because of the manouverability allowing for greater wrist action. This will also likely depend on technique though.
The control profiles are subtly different in that both have fantastic control but the ultra pro is a bit more precise, better for hitting angles and lasering the ball side to side from the baseline. The blade pro also has fantastic precision but more for depth control rather than side by side, it’s great for hitting deep but not quite as precise as the ultra for angles. They are both fantastic for touch shots but the ultra is better just because it’s that little bit easier to get in position with the thin beam which means you can flick the racket around a bit more.
The main issue with the ultra pro is how much weight it needs in the head to play with stability. Until I got mine to 350g and a 32.5cm balance I didn’t like it but I now think it’s probably the best all round racket I have ever played with. I still love the blade pro but the ultra pro is a better fit for my technique give that I have a whippy and wristy forehand without much of a kinetic chain from the ground which means I just don’t quite have enough body mass behind the ball to get the blade pro moving consistently fast into contact under pressure. Is also a closer fit to what I’m used to with the thin beam given that I’m coming from 15 years with the the babolat pure control/storm tour line.
Hope that helps and any qs feel free to shout.
Last edited:
Kitchen5ink
New User
I think you pretty much nailed it. My Ultra pro is 352g with OG. I feel no other racket feels more an extension of the arm. But I feel it's harder work for me to be effective with it compared to my 18m BP.
With the BP I hit a lot more winners and I can dictate the play more.
I've strung both with Tour Bite at 48/46 lbs. I should maybe try lower tensions next time with the UP.
Last edited:
Hesi
Rookie
Thanks everyone. @extreme_western it's funny you mention BP being good stock, because that's exactly how I felt about it. I usually automatically get to customizing and adding weight to whatever racket I use, but with the BP, it was one of the first times after playing with it where I felt like I didn't really need to do anything with it. I'm still happy with my BP 16x19 for now, but you guys know how it can be for us who go on this message board..wandering and curious eyes haha.
bobeeto
Hall of Fame
I own two UP16m and felt the same way after one hit with BP16m
Had to cool it for sake of my pockets
ivanjo
Rookie
Guys guys guys.... Not an awesome news for us.
Wilson is DISCONTINUING Ultra Pro 97 but bringing back the steam under Ultra Pro 99 16x18.
I was waiting to get the UP97 16m v5 just to have a new colourway but it doesn't seem coming true. Tried to get another one from tennisonly Australia (the closest country that sells UP to me) and no more grip size.
I really love how maneuverable is the UP and I play best with it. I sold my other rackets and now, what other racket that will give a very similar feel, comfort, maneuverable with a little more extra power? I was thinking TFight 305s 2025, anyone tried the TFight in comparison to the UP 16m?
Wilson is DISCONTINUING Ultra Pro 97 but bringing back the steam under Ultra Pro 99 16x18.
I was waiting to get the UP97 16m v5 just to have a new colourway but it doesn't seem coming true. Tried to get another one from tennisonly Australia (the closest country that sells UP to me) and no more grip size.
I really love how maneuverable is the UP and I play best with it. I sold my other rackets and now, what other racket that will give a very similar feel, comfort, maneuverable with a little more extra power? I was thinking TFight 305s 2025, anyone tried the TFight in comparison to the UP 16m?
tf40 probably more along the lines of the UP than the T-Fight, similarly Head Prestige, Yonex Percept
ivanjo
Rookie
I need UP's maneuverability and head light balance
bobeeto
Hall of Fame
Prestige MP-L
ivanjo
Rookie
Tell me more comparing the MP-L to the UP.
No, I don't have racket demo in my country, plus I don't think I've ever crossed with Prestige MPL yet so I might need to import it if I want to try it
the only thing i think could come close is the dunlop cx 200 but it's not as stable
Cayenne321
Rookie
This is a massive bummer - the v4 has been on sale for a while trying to clear out the stock.
It kind of made sense for Wilson to drop the 97 when they're bringing in the 99 so they don't have too many options... but they're also bringing 2 versions of a 98 so I don't get why they wouldn't just keep running the 97 as well.
ivanjo
Rookie
Which 98 are they bringing in?
I have a dunlop CX200 and I can't gel with it either. It's definitely give more power but the head speed is far from the UP.
Cayenne321
Rookie
The Nishikori ntour 18/19 27.25in, in both 290g and 308g from what we've seen in some catalogs in the ultra v5 thread.
ivanjo
Rookie
Isn't it already in the market under Ultra Tour version? JDM has Ultra Tour 100 and Ultra Tour 95
Cayenne321
Rookie
I think the 95 was the standard tour with 16x20 and PWS. The 98 might have been Japan only, but is 18x19 and no PWS. No idea about the 100.
i dont really have an issue with the headspeed personally. when i'm on the ground or serving it's great then i try to return or volley and the thing flys
honestly i think the color, while fine, is a step backwards
mattimag
Semi-Pro
I like it
When will these be released?
ivanjo
Rookie
I agree... I think most prev gen shifting colour from wilson is the best. The blade, ultra, shift, even the clash.
ivanjo
Rookie
Does anyone knows how low Wilson racket usually get on sale when the new version is or has come out? I saw TW has the UP for $199 and it's still way more expensive than when tennis only australia got it on sale at AU$189. Unfortunately I missed it and didn't get the grip I use. Will TW goes even further to maybe $129 when the v5 comes out?
RNBABOLAT
Professional
Don't think so, the UP 97 will be replaced by the 99 so if you see a decent price get it while you can.
Kitchen5ink
New User
I got 2 grams each at 12, 3 and 9. And 7 grams in the handle.
tenniserxc
Rookie
When the Yonex Ezone 2025 got leaked, I thought they were taking cues from Wilson's color pallette/shifting philosophy. But this new Ultra looks like an Ezone 2025 lol.
Kind of depends the starting point.
I had one with 4 or 6g of lead at 12 only
One with 1.5g at 12 and 4g at 3/9
And one with 3.5g at 10/2
All counterbalanced with a Fairway leather grip.
Generally the racquet needs more power so 12 is always a good starting point.
ivanjo
Rookie
Got to try it to your preference. I add a total of 6gr on 10 & 2 without counter weight on the handle. It's a freaking fast racket still, and many friends (who are used to pure aero, blade and yonexes) hate it but I love this racket and none compares to it, yet.
jessicavegan
New User
I'm not sure what's going on at Wilson but they never seem to release the racket they claim to release. I'm referring to the latest Pro Staff re-release where they state this is the Ncode Tour 90 that Federer used, but if you look at the pictures, Federer's racket looks entirely different. If no one knows what I'm referring to, I can follow up with example photos. In short, I'm trying to say Wilson never releases the actual model fed or any other player uses and it's totally dishonest of them.
Updating here with the following pics so you can see for yourself. Wilson says the re-released ncode tour 90 is the one made for fed, but its not and you can see the obvious difference in these pics. The one they released has this oddly long handle for some reason. Look at how short the throat is in the one released for consumers vs. the one fed has in his hands. For some reason they thought extending the handle/shortening the throat was appropriate for consumers vs. the actual pro staff that fed used which is the classic construction/dimensions. Odd.
Fed Ncode 90
Ncode 90 re-release
Updating here with the following pics so you can see for yourself. Wilson says the re-released ncode tour 90 is the one made for fed, but its not and you can see the obvious difference in these pics. The one they released has this oddly long handle for some reason. Look at how short the throat is in the one released for consumers vs. the one fed has in his hands. For some reason they thought extending the handle/shortening the throat was appropriate for consumers vs. the actual pro staff that fed used which is the classic construction/dimensions. Odd.
Fed Ncode 90
Ncode 90 re-release
Last edited:
They re-released the retail n6.1 Tour 90 which like the original Tour 90 had the longer pallet and 5 strings on the PWS - this only changed with the K Factor where they made it like Federer'sI'm not sure what's going on at Wilson but they never seem to release the racket they claim to release. I'm referring to the latest Pro Staff re-release where they state this is the Ncode Tour 90 that Federer used, but if you look at the pictures, Federer's racket looks entirely different. If no one knows what I'm referring to, I can follow up with example photos. In short, I'm trying to say Wilson never releases the actual model fed or any other player uses and it's totally dishonest of them.
Updating here with the following pics so you can see for yourself. Wilson says the re-released ncode tour 90 is the one made for fed, but its not and you can see the obvious difference in these pics. The one they released has this oddly long handle for some reason. Look at how short the throat is in the one released for consumers vs. the one fed has in his hands. For some reason they thought extending the handle/shortening the throat was appropriate for consumers vs. the actual pro staff that fed used which is the classic construction/dimensions. Odd.
Fed Ncode 90
Ncode 90 re-release
Similar threads
